Homer'sWorld

 25 years and one month. I paid off my mortgage today. Four years and 11 months early. I guess paying $400 or $500 extra the last couple of years was worth it.

 Two weeks ago Warren sent me a message to tell me his husband Paul had died unexpectedly. Paul was one of the early group of gay bloggers and podcasters. I visited with him several times when I was in the DC area. We made a lemon meringue pie together one time, I well remember his worry about cleanup (his place was immaculate). During a podcast he ate a blueberry for charity (Paul had ARFID, an avoidant food intake disorder). He screamed when he discovered blueberries had seeds inside. We had a good time with that.

The last time I saw him in person was in 2006. We went to the US Botanical Gardens together and then to a winery with his then boyfriend, later husband Warren. At the wineries I pretended to know more about wine than I actually did. We followed each other on social media and I always sent him a Homer-made holiday card (he requested no glitter).

What month. Biden dropping out. Harris taking charge. The Democrats energized. I sent her campaign $200. When she wins I hope never to see the Orange Monster again.

I am doing a lot of surveys. Been all over the state except the northeast side. Caleb helped me out for a couple of days on my US 93 survey (34 miles total, walking).

Caleb and Homer.

A lot of enormous Joshua Trees on the north end, they are actually a type of yucca.

Caleb next to a yucca.

I went to Silver City to teach a historical archaeology class. The museum there has Mimbres pots- these are well known for the animal figures on them.

Mimbres vessels.

I bought plane tickets for Matt and I to go to Traverse City in October.

Smokey and Puff are getting big. I took them last week for their first shots. They weighed five pounds each, Puff a couple of ounces more than Smokey.

Smokey and Puff.

Another round of shots in a month and then they get "fixed." Turns out Smokey is actually a petite, pretty boy. I guess a replacement for Snowball.

 Yesterday afternoon Matt called me to warn me that a storm was heading my way. Around 5 PM it started to rain hard and then the wind came. I don't think it has ever been that windy at my house. 

The electricity went out soon afterward. Then the hail started. Branches came off the willow acacia in my front yard. Poor Ruby was so scared.

After the rain had mostly stopped I went outside. The backyard was a mess- everything torn apart. 

Another huge branch on the willow acacia broke off and is stuck in the top of the tree.

And no electricity. From my house north to Congress, only about six houses. No clue why and with 5,000 houses out of electricity, not sure when it will be fixed. I had to bring the contents of my freezer to work.

Oh and some 20-year-old with poor aim shot at Orange Monster. 

Puff Junior and Matt. Who is handsomer?

They are locked up in the dining room until they get bigger. Ruby really wants to go see them, but that is not allowed. Clyde could care less.

Although Clyde is pretty much able to take care of himself.

My anxiety about the fall election are high. It doesn't help that Biden can't shut up about fucking Israel and their fucking genocidal war against the Palestinians. Whatever good will I had towards Israel is gone.

I was very happy that Trump received 34 guilty counts yesterday. But will it do anything? 

 We went to the Pima County Fair twice. I enjoyed looking at the baked goods and crafts. I also liked the chickens- so many varieties. Also rabbits and baby goats.

So gross.

A couple of days ago I headed north to Wickenburg to do a survey. It is spring time up there (elevation 2800 feet above sea level) and lots of things were flowering. Pretty! 

In front of a giant Joshua Tree, which is actually a type of yucca.

A white flower.

Lupines and some purple flower.

I walked along the sides of US 93 looking for cultural resources. I saw lots of hubcaps, beverage bottles, and my least favorite- bottles filled with urine. Truck drivers have this funnel contraption that they use to pee into bottles, then out the window. SO MANY.

Gross

After surveying I stopped downtown Wickenburg and went to the antique store. Thought about buying a cute vintage Holiday Tree baking dish. But then I saw the prominent display of Orange Monster hats and I put the pan down and walked out.

Hate hats

Barney and Homer.

So back in 2017 I saw the total eclipse in Wyoming. I convinced Matt to go with me to Texas to see it. He wanted to visit Marfa, an artsy town in western Texas, so on Friday the 5th we drove 8 hours there. West Texas is pretty empty, not a lot to see- ranch land, cattle, desert vegetation. We stayed at the Thunderbird Hotel ($667). That night we had a fancy dinner (the roasted yams were the best).

Matt and Homer at dinner.

The next day (Saturday the 6th)  we wandered around Marfa, visiting a variety of stores. I bought some antique photos, one of which was a man named Homer. We had Dairy Queen for dessert.

Sunday the 7th we drove to Fort Davis National Historic Site. It was occupied twice between the 1850s and 1891. Lots of standing buildings. In one building they had done archaeology and strangely enough my co-worker Jenny just finished analyzing the bone from that dig. I thought the signs and furnished rooms were great.

Matt at Fort Davis.

Luckily, there was an O'Reilly's 700 feet away. So we walked there got a new battery and then I walked back and forth to collect the right tools. Finally got the new battery installed ($235). We then went to a saddle and western horse gear store. I counted 23 stuffed heads. I also saw this mounted set of artifacts.

Arrows in the shape of an arrow.

We drove back to Marfa and then went along the highway to see Prada Marfa, a strange tourist attraction.

Prada Marfa.

The next morning, Monday the 8th, we drove east to get to the totality zone. It was four hours away and we planned to go to a little town whose name I cannot remember (Brackettville). We drove past the Comstock Border Patrol Station and the car started acting up, slowing down, black smoke coming out of the tailpipe. Moments of indecision, should we drive back? We started too but it got worse. We turned around and stopped at the station and called a tow truck ($275). Luckily there was a Hyundai dealership in Del Rio, about thirty miles to the east.

WTF.

The dealership said they could fix it. We walked to a horrible restaurant for lunch. As we finished the eclipse started, but it was very cloudy. We walked back to the dealership and sat in the parking lot.

Watching.

Occasionally we could see something through the clouds. Then it became darker. During the totality you could see light at the horizon. The night light came on at the dealership. It was a mediocre experience.

The first few years she ran around the house like crazy. Mama Cat, Puff, and Joey hated her. Later on, when only Puff was left, he made peace with Snowball and they became friends. After mother died, I brought Buddy Cat back and they became friends too.

The last couple of weeks Snowball's body gave out. Stopped eating. Just huddled in place. Still wanted to sleep with her head on my shoulder. I called a vet this morning to come help things and when I moved Snowball to a blanket in the living room, she just suddenly died.

I wrapped her in a blanket inside a pillow case and buried her near Joey, Buddy Cat, and Mama Cat. I will miss my little friend.